This group is intended to create a safe space for youth to talk about mental health issues, create healthy relationships with others, and learn tools to understand, manage, and decrease symptoms of mental health. This group will teach youth how to build insight into their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and learn how to communicate their needs and wants in a healthy assertive manner. Lastly, with an emphasis on maladaptive coping skills including self-medicating with substances, isolating, or engaging in risky behaviors, youth will learn to develop coping skills needed to manage symptoms on a long-term basis.

The Elevate Program creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to increase their advocacy and leadership skills. Through a trauma-informed, health-centered and asset-based approach, youth leaders will work to effect transformative and peer-led policy, systems and environmental change in Orange County. Youth leaders work to identify healthy alternatives to suspension/expulsion related to substance use. Ultimately, LGBTQ Center OC is committed to ending the school-to-prison pipeline and transforming the pipeline to restorative justice, healing and rehabilitation through their Elevate Program. Elevate Program Goals: Reframe substance abuse as a public health issue Combat the detrimental impacts from the War on Drugs on BIPOC/LGBTQ communities Provide trauma-informed counseling and process groups at no cost Raise awareness through social media campaigns, activities, and events

Youth Process Group is an age-specific online processing group from ages 12 to 17. We meet every Tuesday night from 6:00-7:30 PM. BreakOUT is a supportive space for participants to navigate the everyday stressors in their lives. Group leaders facilitate discussions about various topics and activities such as identity, school/ home life, and more. BreakOUTs mission is to involve and engage with young LGBTQIA+ community members, allowing them to explore new strategies to cope as well as connect with their queer identity in a safe space with their peers. It is facilitated by MFT Trainees Brittany Hardin and Yanique Bonner The group is now meeting on Zoom. Please join us using the link below! Meeting ID: 824 5299 3443 Passcode: center